Description:

This course is designed to sharpen the discernment, critical thinking and writing skills of student journalists. Specific English language rules and principles plus AP news writing style will be emphasized in the production of incisive, well-defined features, profiles, reviews, editorials and personal columns. Professional writings in various media will be examined and critiqued. Class members will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on video shooting and editing of a news story package. Students will gain additional experience by participating in news events, as well as interacting with area media professionals. 3 hrs./wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Distinguish between news, feature, profile and editorial styles of writing.
2. Describe the importance of medium/audience characteristics in reporting and writing.
3. Recognize the importance of focus and technique in communicating with an audience.
4. Recognize, appreciate and refine individual reporting/writing style.
5. Plan and conduct in-depth interviews and investigations.
6. Write clear, accurate and meaningful stories/specialty pieces.
7. Recognize potential new angles within an existing story to add drama, novelty, conflict or impact.
8. Describe how the printed newspaper and broadcast/video program are an entities vis-a-vis individual stories, sections or segments.
9. Establish a personal sense of press responsibility and professional ethics.
10. Produce an online story and video news package, exhibiting the techniques of electronic news gathering.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Storytelling Techniques
   A. Story structure
      1. Recognize the elements and patterns of story structures.
including the Inverted Pyramid, Hourglass, List and Section Technique.
      2. Select and implement the appropriate structure for specific story
elements.
   B. Narrative/descriptive strategies
      1. Recognize and avoid redundancy, excessive use of adjectives and
unnecessary physical description.
      2. Identify and revise offensive references, including sexist and
racist descriptions.
      3. Incorporate appropriate analogies and similes, strong, active
verbs and specific, concrete nouns.
      4. Include sensory images and dialogue where appropriate.
      5. Engage the reader in the story opening by setting the scene,
establishing a dominant tone or foreshadowing forthcoming events.

II. Revising stories 
   A. Sharpening the focus
      1. Limit the content of the story idea to fit copy space available.
      2. Select the specific angle, and eliminate irrelevant detail.
   B. Brevity
      1. Avoid repetition, redundancy and windy phrases.
      2. Eliminate transitive verbs and relative clauses to reduce
wordiness and passive constructions.
      3. Combine sentences to reduce word count and improve flow.
      4. Reduce unnecessary explanations (telling).
   C. Clarity and concreteness
      1. Organize story information to improve clarity and coherence.	
      2. Add specific, concrete details, including statistics, testimony
and eyewitness accounts
      3. Insert transitions to connect ideas and details and to signal
change.

III. Feature and Specialty Stories  
   A. Finding a focus
      1. List the elements of hard news stories that can be transformed
into features and specialty stories.
      2. Examine story elements to identify a unifying theme.
   B. Determining point of view
      1. Evaluate the characters, plot, pivotal moments and facts that add
drama to the event.
      2. Determine which elements will involve the reader in the story
experience.
   C. Gathering and organizing essential detail
      1. Compile story detail in meaningful units.
      2. Arrange detail according to the laws of progressive reader
involvement.
   D. Application
      1. Using appropriate news gathering methods and the specific
structure of a feature or specialty story, create a news story.
      2. Revise and edit to produce final copy.

IV. Profiles 
   A. Selecting a subject
      1. Identify noteworthy individuals, institutions, events and
situations.
      2. Apply the nut graph principle to determine reader interest,
involvement, and overall story significance/impact.
   B. Developing the theme
      1. Identify the unifying angle that makes the subject newsworthy and
ties the subject matter together.
      2. Apply methods to analyze material and discover patterns, decisive
moments, and turning points in the life/history of the
individual/organization.
   C. Organizing material
      1. Use anecdote, description or narration to set the scene, develop
the lead and draw the reader into the story.
      2. Use concept blocking, time frames or chronology to develop the
body of the profile.
      3. Use an appropriate kicker (quote, circle or future action) to end
the story and fix the profile in the mind of the reader.
   D. Application
      1. Using appropriate news gathering methods and the specific
structure of a profile, create a news story.
      2. Revise and edit to produce final copy.

 V. Editorial and Column Writing
   A. Determining editorial subject and purpose
      1. Determine the need for elucidation, commentary, argument,
proposal or speculation in terms of reader interest, relevance and
usefulness.
      2. Examine alternative presentation styles: informative,
explanatory, persuasive, sarcasm, humor.
      3. Determine editorial purpose and approach.
   B. Crafting the editorial message
      1. List and describe the tenets of sound argumentation, persuasion,
presentation.
      2. Determine editorial voice and tone.
      3. Examine and respond to opposing views/arguments.
      4. Present and argue the point via the logical progression of facts
using metaphor,   analogy and anecdote where appropriate.
      5. Close the appeal with statement of resolution.
   C. Crafting the personal column
      1. Compare and contrast the presentation of opinion through
editorial and column writing.
      2. List and describe advantages of expressing opinion via a personal
column.
      3. List and describe the roles assumed by column writers.
   D. Application
      1. Using the appropriate purpose and methods of argumentation,
persuasion and presentation, create an editorial or personal column.
      2. Revise and edit to produce final copy.

VI. Review Writing 
   A. Describe the elements of review writing.
      1. Illustrate story structure.
      2. Examine a balance of reporting and opinion.
      3. Exhibit an awareness of biases.
      4. Produce a story using objectivity.
   B. Discuss the basic ingredient of an effective review.
      1. Describe the review’s main point.
      2. Evaluate the theme.
      3. Provide details.
      4. Provide balance.
   C. List the types of reviewers.
      1. Previewer.
      2. Reviewer.
      3. Critic.
      4. Standard bearer.

VII. Online Reporting 
   A. Describe the differences between online readers and traditional
media readers.
   B. List “micro-content” utilized for online reporting.
      1. Headlines
      2. Blurbs
      3. Briefs
   C. Produce stories using online techniques.
      1. Graphics
      2. Photos
      3. Bullet points
      4. Video
      5. Audio

VIII. TV/Video News Writing 
   A. Describe the differences between writing for broadcast/video and
writing for print media.
   B. Illustrate the procedures for developing a news package for
broadcast/video.
      1. Format a script.
      2. Produce the “teaser”.
      3. Structure the story.
   C. Produce a TV/Video news package.
      1. Learn camera operation.
      2. Exhibit knowledge of using basic accessory equipment.
      3. Produce effective lighting and audio of subjects.
      4. Perform standups and voiceovers.
      5. Perform basic non-linear editing of the story.
      6. Discuss lessons learned and problem solving issues.
               
IX. Ethics, Accuracy and Libel
   A. Individual values
      1. Investigate and assess the common conflicts encountered by
journalists.
      2. Differentiate between an ethical dilemma and ethical lapse.
   B. The importance of accuracy
      1. List and define the three cardinal principles of reporting.
      2. List and define the basic steps in collecting and checking
information, including the reliability of sources.
      3. List and define the procedural safeguards for accuracy, including
verification of facts and quotations, and corroboration of critical
information.
   C. Recognizing and avoiding libel
      1. Identify and describe the four elements of libel.
      2. Identify and describe primary and secondary libel defenses.	
      3. Identify and describe the related elements of unreasonable
intrusion and harassment.
      4. Identify and describe landmark libel cases in the United States.
      5. Identify and describe multicultural issues in journalism,
including stereotypes, loaded words, identification of minorities, people
with disabilities and gender differences.
   D. Application
      1. Read and evaluate class assignments and stories in the local
press in terms of ethical, accuracy and libel considerations.
      2. Revise and edit for compliance with the principles of sound
journalism.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Grading: All work is graded on a point system and computed into
percentages. The final grade is based on the percentage of total points
earned at semester’s end.

Criteria: Complete, concrete, correct and clear writing is a major goal of
each project assigned. In addition, incorporation of the elements and
characteristics of each style of news story will be evaluated.

Grading Criteria: 
 90 - 100% = A
 80 -  89% = B
 70 -  79% = C
 60 -  69% = D
 Below 60% = F

Point Summary: 
 Written assignments      = 40% - 70% of grade
 Quizzes                  = 10% - 20% of grade
 Attendance/participation = 10% - 20% of grade

Caveats:

1. Knowledge and effective use of the English language, its styles and techniques, plus the ability/desire to investigate, analyze and correlate information and ideas.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.